Police are appealing for information about the destruction which reportedly happened on the day the building in Edge Lane, Liverpool, was due to be completed.

"The handover was today, everything completed, we'd put the last tile in, cleaned up and made sure everything was perfect," ceiling fixer Samuel White, 24, said.

"Then some idiot in a mini digger decided to drive through the middle of the building."

There were construction workers inside the hotel at the time and Merseyside Police said one man was treated for eye irritation due to exposure to diesel, but did not believe anyone else was injured.

Mr White repeated claims made by many on social media that the driver of the digger was angry over a pay dispute said to involve £600.

The Travelodge hotel is on Edge Lane in Liverpool (Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)

He said the destruction, which started shortly before 3pm, went on for "a good 20 or 30 minutes" before the driver left the vehicle and ran off.

"There were loads of workers outside all gobsmacked, jaws to the floor wondering what's going on," said Mr White.

"The site manager was running around like a headless chicken, he wasn't happy at all."

Since the video was shared online, many have sympathised with the construction worker after reports he had not been paid his wages.

A GoFundMe page has since been set up to help the driver replace his wages and to help with any legal fees he may face after the incident.

Fundraiser

Almost £500 was raised within the first two hours of the page going live with many explaining in the comments why they would support it.

The page says: "This gofundme has been created to help fund the lost wages for the Travel Lodge - Edge Lane Digger Driver who is owed 600 in unpaid wages. "600 Is to be given directly to the driver with any extra used to pay any possible legal fees which may have arisen as a result of the demolition of the travel lodge.

"Many people in the building trade encounter such situations day in day out and this guy will have helped MANY tradesmen to get paid on time and to stand up for themselves when its really needed."

Under the post one man said: "Can't feed kids with non payment of wages. This is a boss idea!"